Experience sampling method studies in physical activity research: the relevance of causal reasoning
Abstract Background The experience sampling method (ESM), also known as ecological momentary assessment, is gaining popularity in physical activity research. This method involves assessing participants’ behaviors and experiences repeatedly over time. One key advantage of ESM is its ability to tempor...
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BMC
2025-03-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-025-01723-w |
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| author | Louise Poppe Annick L. De Paepe Benedicte Deforche Delfien Van Dyck Tom Loeys Jelle Van Cauwenberg |
| author_facet | Louise Poppe Annick L. De Paepe Benedicte Deforche Delfien Van Dyck Tom Loeys Jelle Van Cauwenberg |
| author_sort | Louise Poppe |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The experience sampling method (ESM), also known as ecological momentary assessment, is gaining popularity in physical activity research. This method involves assessing participants’ behaviors and experiences repeatedly over time. One key advantage of ESM is its ability to temporally separate the dependent and independent variable of interest, reducing the risk of reverse causality. However, temporal separation alone is insufficient for establishing causality. This methodology paper illustrates the importance of the identification phase in drawing causal conclusions from ESM data. In the identification phase the causal effect of interest (or estimand) is specified and the assumptions under which a statistical association can be considered as causal are visualized using causal directed acyclic graphs (DAGs). Methods We demonstrate how to define a causal estimand and construct a DAG for a specific ESM research question. The example focuses on the causal effect of physical activity performed in real-life on subsequent executive functioning among older adults. The DAG development process combines literature review and expert consultations to identify time-varying and time-invariant confounders. Results The developed DAG shows multiple open backdoor paths causing confounding bias, even with temporal separation of the exposure (physical activity) and outcome (executive functioning). Two approaches to address this confounding bias are illustrated: (1) physical control using the within-person encouragement design, where participants receive randomized prompts to perform physical activity in their natural environment, and (2) analytic control, involving assessing all confounding variables and adjusting for these variables in the analysis phase. Conclusions Implementing the identification phase enables ESM researchers to make more informed decisions, thereby enhancing the validity of causal inferences in studies aimed at answering causal questions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-254ed6f806884d8b8e82a1c30e845b93 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1479-5868 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| series | International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity |
| spelling | doaj-art-254ed6f806884d8b8e82a1c30e845b932025-08-20T01:57:52ZengBMCInternational Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity1479-58682025-03-0122111310.1186/s12966-025-01723-wExperience sampling method studies in physical activity research: the relevance of causal reasoningLouise Poppe0Annick L. De Paepe1Benedicte Deforche2Delfien Van Dyck3Tom Loeys4Jelle Van Cauwenberg5Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent UniversityDepartment of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent UniversityDepartment of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent UniversityDepartment of Movement and Sports Sciences, Ghent UniversityDepartment of Data-Analysis, Ghent UniversitySchool of Public Health, Université Libre de BruxellesAbstract Background The experience sampling method (ESM), also known as ecological momentary assessment, is gaining popularity in physical activity research. This method involves assessing participants’ behaviors and experiences repeatedly over time. One key advantage of ESM is its ability to temporally separate the dependent and independent variable of interest, reducing the risk of reverse causality. However, temporal separation alone is insufficient for establishing causality. This methodology paper illustrates the importance of the identification phase in drawing causal conclusions from ESM data. In the identification phase the causal effect of interest (or estimand) is specified and the assumptions under which a statistical association can be considered as causal are visualized using causal directed acyclic graphs (DAGs). Methods We demonstrate how to define a causal estimand and construct a DAG for a specific ESM research question. The example focuses on the causal effect of physical activity performed in real-life on subsequent executive functioning among older adults. The DAG development process combines literature review and expert consultations to identify time-varying and time-invariant confounders. Results The developed DAG shows multiple open backdoor paths causing confounding bias, even with temporal separation of the exposure (physical activity) and outcome (executive functioning). Two approaches to address this confounding bias are illustrated: (1) physical control using the within-person encouragement design, where participants receive randomized prompts to perform physical activity in their natural environment, and (2) analytic control, involving assessing all confounding variables and adjusting for these variables in the analysis phase. Conclusions Implementing the identification phase enables ESM researchers to make more informed decisions, thereby enhancing the validity of causal inferences in studies aimed at answering causal questions.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-025-01723-wExperience sampling methodEcological momentary assessmentCausalityDirected acyclic graphIdentificationWithin-person encouragement design |
| spellingShingle | Louise Poppe Annick L. De Paepe Benedicte Deforche Delfien Van Dyck Tom Loeys Jelle Van Cauwenberg Experience sampling method studies in physical activity research: the relevance of causal reasoning International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity Experience sampling method Ecological momentary assessment Causality Directed acyclic graph Identification Within-person encouragement design |
| title | Experience sampling method studies in physical activity research: the relevance of causal reasoning |
| title_full | Experience sampling method studies in physical activity research: the relevance of causal reasoning |
| title_fullStr | Experience sampling method studies in physical activity research: the relevance of causal reasoning |
| title_full_unstemmed | Experience sampling method studies in physical activity research: the relevance of causal reasoning |
| title_short | Experience sampling method studies in physical activity research: the relevance of causal reasoning |
| title_sort | experience sampling method studies in physical activity research the relevance of causal reasoning |
| topic | Experience sampling method Ecological momentary assessment Causality Directed acyclic graph Identification Within-person encouragement design |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-025-01723-w |
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